Lotion applicator

ABSTRACT

An apparatus configured for applying lotion to hard-to-reach areas of a person&#39;s body consisting of a head portion  12  to which a sponge  16  is secured with a handle portion  14  extending outward from the head portion of the apparatus. A handle extension  18  extends from the handle portion. The head, handle, and handle extension are formed of plastic, acrylic or, in the alternative, may be formed of a metal such as stainless steel.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

[0001] This patent application is based on a provisional patentapplication Serial No. 60/190,521 filed on Mar. 20, 2000.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates generally to lotion applicatorsand, more particularly, to applicators for applying lotion tohard-to-reach areas of a body.

[0005] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0006] Sometimes it is necessary for an individual to apply lotion, or alike product to his or her skin. This may be for medicinal purposes,such as to treat a rash, sunburn, or skin disorder. Generally, lotionscan be applied by the individual using his or her hands. Many areas ofthe body can be reached effectively by using the hands. Often times,however, this can result in a residue on the hands and on objects thatare later handled. Additionally, depending upon the character of thelotion applied, the skin on the hands may retain an unpleasant odor ormay be discolored. Most importantly, there are several areas of the bodythat cannot be reached easily using one's own hands. These areas includethe back and the lower legs. At times, application of lotion to thesehard to reach areas may be almost impossible. Often it is notpracticable or desirable to receive assistance in applying lotion toone's back or other hard to reach areas of the body.

[0007] There have been other products proposed to address the problemsnoted above. However, these products involve the use of roll-onapplicators and sponge-type applicators attached to a wand or longhandle. These devices have not proven satisfactory as the spongematerial currently used is not fit for repeated use. Such spongematerial, is by nature, difficult to clean completely. Roll-onapplicators are unreliable for the task as the flow of the lotion cannotbe accurately monitored and often result in a flow of lotion which is inexcess or is inadequate for the desired purpose.

[0008] Therefore, a lotion applicator that can be used repeatedly toapply lotion to an individual's skin and can easily reach the back andlower legs would be a beneficial addition to the marketplace. Thepresent invention provides a means to enable an individual to applylotions to hard to reach areas of a person's back and other parts of hisor her body. It is believed that the present invention is easy to useand is cost effective to manufacture and therefore readily affordable inthe marketplace.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A device for applying lotion to the skin consisting of a bodyhaving a head portion and a handle portion, a handle extension securedto the handle portion of the body, a sponge holder secured to the headportion of the body and a sponge secured to sponge holder.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0010] Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the presentinvention described above, several specific objects and advantages ofthe present invention include the following:

[0011] 1. To provide an apparatus to facilitate the application oflotions and like substances to the skin specifically to those places ofthe body which are difficult for an individual to reach unassisted.

[0012] 2. To provide an apparatus for applying lotions and likesubstances to the skin without leaving a residue of lotion or such othersubstances on the hands of the individual after application.

[0013] 3. To provide a unit which would be easily adaptable to use ofinterchangeable heads for application of various types of lotions,medications, exfoliators, ointments and the like.

[0014] 4. To provide a lotion applicator which is generally inexpensive,easy to use, easy to clean, and can be conveniently stored after eachuse.

[0015] These and other objects and advantages of the present inventionare more readily apparent with reference to the detailed description ofthe present invention and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, andthe advantages thereof, reference is now made to the followingdescriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus configuredfor applying lotion to hard-to-reach areas of a person's body inaccordance with features of the present invention;

[0018]FIGS. 2A and 2B depict respective top and bottom perspective viewsof the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0019]FIGS. 3A and 3B depict respective top and bottom perspective viewsof a head portion and a handle portion of the apparatus represented inFIG. 1;

[0020]FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D depict respective top, side, bottom, andend views of the head portion and handle portion of the apparatus ofFIG. 1;

[0021]FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, and 5F depict various views of a handleextension of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0022]FIGS. 6A and 6B depict respective top and bottom perspective viewsof a sponge holder of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

[0023]FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C depict respective top, bottom and side viewsof a sponge holder of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral 10generally designates an apparatus embodying features of the presentinvention for applying lotion to hard-to-reach areas of an individual'sbody such as the back area.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 comprisesa body 8 having a head portion 12 and a handle portion 14 extendingoutwardly therefrom. The head portion 12 is configured for securing asponge 16 thereto in a manner described in further detail below. Ahandle extension 18 slidingly extends from the handle portion 14 andincludes a hook portion 20 configured for hanging the apparatus 10 froma shower head in a shower (not shown). The head portion 12, handleportion 14, and handle extension 18 are preferably about 22-24 inches inlength and are preferably formed of plastic or acrylic, oralternatively, of a metal, such as stainless steel.

[0026]FIGS. 3A and 3B depict respective top and bottom perspective viewsof the body 8 of the apparatus 10, and FIGURES 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D depictrespective top, side, bottom, and end views of the body 8 of theapparatus 10. As shown therein, an end portion 22 of the handle portion14 is configured to form lock tab 24. The lock tab 24 is configured toengage one of four notched slots 26 defined on the handle extension 18and as shown most clearly in FIGS. 5. The handle extension 18 isassembled to the handle portion 14 by pressing the lock tab 24 in thedirection of the arrow 28 (FIG. 2B) and sliding the extension 18 intothe handle portion 14 to the extent desired and is then releasing thelock tab 24 in a slot 26 to lock the handle extension onto the handleportion in the position selected. The head further defines three lockingtabs 29.

[0027]FIGS. 6A and 6B depict respective top and bottom perspective viewsof a sponge holder 30, and FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C depict respective top,bottom, and side views of the sponge holder 30. The sponge holder 30defines preferably three locking tabs 32 configured to matingly engagethe locking tabs 29 (FIGS. 3B and 4C) of the head 12 to thereby form arotary bayonet lock connection. More or fewer than three locking tabs 29and 32 may be utilized as suitable. The sponge 16 is secured, forexample, by adhesive, to the interior of the sponge holder 30.

[0028] The sponge 16 preferably comprises a PVA synthetic spongecomprising Polyvinyl Alcohol, such as is available from PVA Unlimited,located in Warsaw, Ind. It preferably defines a three dimensional opencell structure similar to that of natural sea sponges. All of the cellsare interconnected, and are not independent. Such physical structurepermits high filtering efficiency, it permits the sponge to be reusedafter cleaning, and provides good retention and wicking properties.

[0029] The PVA sponge will absorb up to approximately 12 times its dryweight in water. When saturated with water, PVA becomes flexible andsoft like natural sea sponge. The wet volume is about 20% greater thanthe dry volume. PVA exhibits mechanical strength and abrasion resistanceequal to or greater than any other synthetic sponge material. Pore sizeand shape may vary to meet specific applications. When wet, the PVAsponge will preferably withstand temperatures of up to 90° C. withoutplastic deformation. The PVA is preferably pure white, but may bepigmented in any color to a high degree of color-fastness. The sponge 16may also be provided with lotion, ointment, and/or medicine.

[0030] The handle extension 18 is assembled to the handle portion 14 bypressing the lock tab 24 in the direction of the arrow 28 (FIG. 2B),sliding the extension 18 onto the handle portion 14 to the extentdesired, and then releasing the lock tab 24 in a slot 26 to lock thehandle extension onto the handle portion in the position selected by theindividual.

[0031] In operation, after the handle extension 18 is secured to thehandle portion 14, as described above, the handle extension may beadjusted by pressing the lock tab 24 in the direction of the arrow 28(FIG. 2B) and sliding the extension 18 along the handle portion 14 tothe extent desired, and is then releasing the lock tab 24 in a slot 26to lock the handle extension onto the handle portion in the selectedposition.

[0032] The sponge holder 30, including a sponge adhered therein, ispositioned and rotated in the head 12 so that the locking tabs 29 and 32engage to form a rotary bayonet lock connection to thereby secure thesponge holder 30 in the head 12. If needed or desired, the sponge 16 maybe provided with lotion, ointment, and/or medicine and kept moist withwater. By holding the handle 14 and extension 18, a person may positionthe sponge 16 on a hard-to-reach portion of their body, such as theirback, and apply the lotion, ointment, and/or medicine thereto as thecase may be.

[0033] It is understood that the present invention can take many formsand embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made in theforegoing without departing from the spirit or the scope of of theinvention. For example, the sponge holder 30 may be secured to the head12 by means other than a bayonet lock connection, such as by a hook andloop fabric such as Velcro™ or the like. The sponge 16 may be securedvia a hook and loop fabric such as Velcro™, or the like, to the interiorof the sponge holder 30, or directly to the head 12, thereby renderingthe sponge unnecessary. The handle extension 18 may be fixedly, ratherthan slidably, mounted onto the handle portion 14, or the handleextension 18 may be formed as an integral portion of the handle portion14. The handle portion 14 may be formed without the hook portion 20, orthe hook portion may be replaced with an aperture formed in the handleportion 14, or with a loop of string, rope, or the like suitably formedfor hanging the apparatus 10 from a shower head or other fixture.

[0034] Having thus described the present invention by reference tocertain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodimentsdisclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that awide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions arecontemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, somefeatures of the present invention may be employed without acorresponding use of the other features. Many such variations andmodifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilledin the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferredembodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of thepresent invention.

What I claim as my invention is:
 1. A lotion applicator forhard-to-reach areas of the body comprising: (a) a body having a headportion and a handle portion; (b) a handle extension secured to thehandle portion of the body; (c) a sponge holder secured to the headportion of the body; and (d) a sponge secured to the sponge holder.